Coolermaster Mastermouse MM520 and MM530 Review

Conclusion

With two such similar mice it's easy to deal with them both at the same time, as so much of the build materials and features translate from one to the other.

There is no denying that the absolute star of the show is the excellent PixArt 3360 sensor. We've seen loads of mice equipped with it recently and it has clearly taken over from the old Avago 9800 as the sensor of choice for high DPI gaming mice. It tracks accurately throughout the different resolutions without suffering from jitter or overly-eager angle snapping.

In keeping with the decision to kit the two Mastermouse MM5x0 mice with the best hardware possible the left and right mouse buttons are both Omron ones supporting 20 million click life. The 20m click Omrons are the best combination between a crisp tactile response and longevity so we love the inclusion of them here.

Seeing a PixArt and Omron combination on the pair of Mastermouse mice is hardly unique to them, but what really sets them apart from the competition is the affordable price point. It's uncommon to find a 12000 DPI sensor at £40, so if you're all about the main hardware then the Coolermaster offerings are an easy purchase.

Sadly when you're stuffing so much expensive hardware into such an affordable package there will always be compromises made, and both the MM520 and MM530 have elements that lean towards disappointing.

The MM530 is the best featured of the two thanks to that extra button on top, but that extra button comes at the cost of the RGB bar at the back of the mouse that we can see on the MM520. Equally you have rubberised grips on both sides of the mouse helping it suit both the claw and palm style players which is a positive for the MM530, but the mouse has a much cheaper feel than the MM520. It just seems hollower which accentuates the average feel of the plastic. On the flip side the MM520 feels much more robust, but the lack of rubber on the left hand side and the single button on top are yet another compromise. Finally both mice suffer from the problem inherent to affordable mice with Omron switches for the main buttons in that the main buttons feel fantastic but the side ones feel squishy very average indeed.

The sensor absolutely dominates our experience of both the Mastermouse MM520 and MM530 like a ghost chilli sitting on cracker. Whether either of these two mice will find their way onto your shortlist depends entirely upon how much you're willing to live with the compromises necessary to supply a PixArt 3360 sensor at this price point. The negatives aren't absolute flaws, just elements that aren't as pleasant as the sensor. That sensor is spectacular though and it's enough to squeeze them just in to our OC3D Gamers Choice award.

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